Ball-point pens



March 5, 1963 T. c. GORDON 3,079,395

BALL-POINT PENS Filed April 2. 1959 INVENTOR Travis C. Gardon W M ATTlDRNEYS nited States Patent 3,979,895 BALL-PGINT PENg Travis C. Gordon, 3 (Iharles St, East Norwalk, Conn. Filed Apr. 2, 1959, Ser. No. $8,698 2 Claims. (Q1. 129-4232) This invention relates to ball-point pens.

An object of this invention is to provide a ball-point pen which is so economical to manufacture that the hold or for the ink tube and ball-point tip units may be dis carded with the latter when the ink supply thereof is no longer sufi'lcient.

For this purpose, the pen of the present invention includes a holder preferably in the form of a relatively fiat elongate body which may advantageously be made of wood, or extruded or molded plastic composition. The holder is provided with one or more external longitudinal grooves of such width and depth as to readily receive an ink tube and tip unit. To mount the unit on the holder, it may be placed over and parallel to the groove and pressed laterally into the groove, as with the fingers of the hand, with moderate forcethe unit being frictionally retained in the groove of the holder with the writing tip of the unit projecting beyond the end of the holder for use.

When the holder is of so low cost or little value that discarding it when the ink supply is exhausted is of no consequence, the ink tube and tip unit may be cemented in the holder to be a permanent part thereof. However, for reasons which will hereinafter appear, it is preferable that the ink tube and tip unit be removably retained in the groove, as by the frictional engagement of the Walls of the groove with the outer surface of the tube so that the unit may be removed and replaced by a fresh or different unit.

Another equally important object of this invention is to provide a multipoint pen capable of holding a plurality of ink tube and tip units with the writing tips thereof projecting beyond the end of the holder which is economical to manufacture and in which it is easy to remove and replace any of the ink tube units which may have become exhausted. This is accomplished by the present invention by providing the holder with a plurality of extern-a1 longitudinal grooves to removably receive and hold several ink tube and tip units. With such an arrangeroent, to remove and replace tube units there are no operations to perform other than to lift the ink tube to be replaced from the retaining groove and press a fresh one in place. According to the present invention, the ink tubes may contaiin ink of diferent colors, thereby providing a convenient and economical multicolor ball-point pen.

There may be as many external unit-receiving grooves and ink tube units as convenient or desirable, consideration being given to the fact that the device is a hand-held writing instrument wherein each writing point should be conveniently available for use without obscuring the writing operation.

It is a feature of this invention that it provides in an easily handled and convenient writing instrument a plularity of points or tips of difierent colors which may be selectively used merely by changing the position of the instrument in the users hand.

in several embodiments of this invention the holder is made elongate and oblong in cross-section so as to present two substantially parallel relatively narrow sides and two flat surfaces which orient the position of the instrument as selected between the fingers and thumb of the users hand. In such embodiments of this invention, only one of the longitudinal edges of the holder may be provided with the tube-receiving groove, and in this case the groove may extend to and be open at both ends of 3,d79,895 Patented Mar. 5, 1953 ice the holder. Two ink tubes of different color inks may be inserted in the groove so that their writing tips respectively project from opposite ends of the holder in position for use. Thus, by merely turning the holder end-forend in his hand, the user may write in either of two different colors.

In another embodiment of this invention, the holder may be provided with two longitudinal grooves, one in each of the narrow edges of the holder and each extending to an opening at the same end of the holder. In this case, each of the grooves may contain an ink tube and tip unit having ink of dilferent color from the other. Thus, with the writing tips projecting from one end of the holder it is merely necessary to rotate the holder in ones fingers to bring into writing position one or the other of the two ball-points.

To increase the capacity of the instrument, the longitudinal ink unit receiving grooves in the narrow edges of the holder may be extended to and open at both ends of the holder, thus making provision for carrying four difrcrent ink tube and tip units, one of the grooves carrying two ink tube and tip units with the tips projecting at opposite ends of the holder while the other groove also contains two ink tube and tip units projecting at opposite ends of the holder. Thus there is provided a writing instrument having four difierent-color ink tubes, a particular one of which may be selected for use by rotating the holder and/ or turning it end-for-end in one hand leaving the other hand free to be occupied with other matters.

The four-color pen of this invention avoids the necessity of slidins one ink unit in place and retracting it when it is desired to use another as is required in such pens as heretofore made and sold. Each ink unit is ever-ready for use by a simple manual rotation or turning of the holder.

Preferably the grooves are so formed that when the ink tubes are placed therein they are not obscured from view, being inserted in the grooves so as to be approximately flush with or slightly projecting from the longitud al narrow edges of the holder. In such cases, it is a. antageous and is embraced in the inventive concept of this invention that the ink tubes have their outer surfaces coated with the same color (not necessarily the same hue) Thus, by observing as the ink contained in the tubes. the color of the ink tube, the user may conveniently select the particular color of ink which is desired for the writing operation.

it will be noted that the writing tips are, according to the present invention, always exposed for use and therefore may come in contact with other things, such as the clothing, when carried in a pocket. In order to prevent this, present invention provides a shield or guard member for the writing points. This may be in the form of a sheath encircling the holder open at both ends and slidable thereon from a position inwardly removed from the end of the holder to a position where it extends beyond the writing tip or tips. Two such sheaths may be provided in the case of a double-ended instrument. In either case, detent means may be provided to hold the sheath in extended or retracted position.

In the use of ball-point pens, itis advantageous to have the axis of the writing tip as near perpendicular to the writing surface as practicable, but in the ball-point pens as heretofore made and sold it was only practical to have the axis of the writing tip parallel with the axis of the holder, and as a result the optimum position of the tip could not be attained.

According to the present invention, however, it is possible to obtain a more nearly optimum position of the writing tip, i.e. a position where the axis of the writing tip is more nearly perpendicular to the paper, and yet permit the holder to assume the normal writing position in the users hand.

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This important feature of the present invention, wherein the ink tube and tip units are externally mounted on the holder, is accomplished by making the ink tube-receiving groove deflect adjacent the end of the holder toward the opposite narrow edge thereof so as to intersect or closely intersectthat opposite edge; also the ink tube is bent so that it will follow and lie in the groove with the writing point at a substantial angle with reference to the axis of the holder and projecting beyond the end of the holder adjacent the other longitudinal edge. Preferably the arrarngement issuch that-the ball-point of the writing tip is at or slightly above the plane of the adjacent longitudinal narrow edge of the holder. The end of the body of the holder is preferably tapered off in the same direction as the bend of the groove and the ink tube.

In one form of this embodiment of thisiuvention, each longitudinal edge of the holder has the groove diverging toward the other at the end of the holder and each may contain an ink tube unit so as to produce a doublepointedball-point pen, one ball-point extending from each end of the holder. One ink tube may contain an ink of one color while the other ink tube may contain an ink of another color.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings which show several embodiments of this invention- FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one form of ball-point pen which is oblong in cross-section showing the broad side of the holder and showing in cross-section and the pointc'overing sheath which may optionally be employed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pen shown in FIG. 1 but showing the narrow edgeof the holder.

FIG. 3 is across-section of the pen shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing a modification wherein two of the ball-point tips are closely juxtaposed.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the holder shown in FIG 1 but showing four ink tubes and points-two projecting from each end of the holder.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the holder when it is desired to have four ink tubes and points carried thereby so that four points may project from the same end of the holder.

FIG. 7 is aview like FIG. 6 but showing the arrangement which may be employed when three points are to be projected from one end of the holder.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of another form of holder and ink tube arrangement in which ink tubes are bent so that the ball-carrying point may be more nearly perpendicular to the writing surface while the holder assumes a natural position in the writers handthe protecting sheaths which may be used with such a pen being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of the pen shown in FIG. 8, showing the angular relation between the pen-point and the writing surface which may be conveniently obtained.

FIG. 10 is an end view of a holder which is more or less elliptical in cross-section.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the holder 11 is elongate and preferably generally oblong in cross-section so as to be conveniently held in the users hand with broader sides 12 being engaged by the [index finger and thumb and oriented thereby with one of the narrow sides 13 facing the writ-ing paper or other material.

At least one, but preferably each, of the narrow sides 13 of the holder is provided with a longitudinally extending external groove 14 of such width as to snugly receive and frictionally retain an ink tube and ball-point unit such as the units 15,, and the groove 14 extends to and through at least one end 16 of the holder so that the ink tube 17 of the unit may be positioned in the groove with-the writing point 13 projecting beyond the adjacent end :16 of the holder to be accessible for writing operations. -The groove 14 may have a depth less than or greater than the diameter of the ink tube 17 which it is to receive, but preferably the depth is approximately equal to the ink tubes diameter. Thus, when, as proposed by the present invention, the ink tube is provided on its exterior with marks or a coating of paint or other material having the same color as the ink in the tube, the user may easily select the writing point to be used by observing the color of the ink tube. V

In applying the ink tube unit 15 to the holder, either as an original installation or as a replacement, it is merely necessary to lay the tube 17 over the groove 14 with the point 18 projecting beyond the end 16 of the holder and laterally press the tube, as by finger pressure, into the groove until the tube bottoms in the groove.

To remove an ink tube unit 15 from the holder 11 when, for instance, the ink supply is exhansted,,or to substitute an ink tube of a different color, it is merely necessary to grasp the writing tip 18 and lift the unit bodily out of the groove 14.

The holder 11 may bemade of wood or plastic material having some resiliency so that the ink tube unit 15 may be frictionally held in the groove by the resiliency of the holder. However, when the holder is made of metal or other non-yielding material or when the groove is slightly wider than the diameter of the ink tube 17 to be used, if the ink tube is slightly bowed (which can be done by hand), the resiliency of the ink tube itself will be sufiicient to frictionally'retain it in the groove.

If the holder is to be discarded when the ink supply of the ink tube is exhausted, the ink tube unit 15 may be permanently cemented in the groove.

From whathas been said above, it will be understood that the holder 11 may, if desired, have only one external groove 14 opening at only one end of the holder to receive and hold only one ink tube unit. However, it is an important object of this invention to provide a multicolor ball-point pen. This is accomplished, in one form of the invention, by providing a groove 14 in each narrow edge 13 of the holder as shown in FIGS. 1, '2 and 3 for instance, and causing both grooves to extend to and through the same end of the holder. Thus, two ink tube units 15 of difierent color inks may be mounted on opposite-narrow edges 13 of the holder as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and the color of ink to be used may be selected by merely rotating the holder in the fingers of the hand to bring the desired unit 15 to writing position.

The object of the invention may also be accomplished by causing a single groove 14- to extend to and through the end 16 and end 19 of the holder. In this case, the groove 14 may receive two ink tubes of different color inks, one projecting in writing position from each end of the holder, and the color ink to be used may be selected by turning the holder end-for-end in the hand to bring the desired unit 15 to Writing position.

To make the holder so that four different colors of ink are available for use, the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 may be employed, in which the holder has the ink tube receiving grooves 14 along both its narrow edges 13 and each groove extends to and through opposite ends 16 and 19 of the holder. Thus, each groove 14 may re ceive two ink tube units 15, making available for use four different color inks any one of which may be selected by rotating the holder and/or turning it end-forend. This operation can be accomplished with ease by the hand holding the instrument while the other hand is otherwise occupied.

In the form of the invention in which the holder is provided with two longitudinal grooves 14 opening at both ends of the holder, it may be found convenient when only two ink tube units 15 are Wanted or needed to mount only one ink tube in each of the grooves so that the writing tips project respectively from opposite ends ofthe holder,

"for instance asshovm in FIG. 8.

The holder may be triangular in cross-section, such as the holder 11-!) shown in FIG. 7, in which case the amasee three longitudinal grooves 14 may advantageously be located at the intersections of the sides 12b. Thus, provision is rnade for three difierent color ink tube units 15 projecting from one end of the holder and optionally three additional ink tube units 15 may be carried when the grooves extend to and through both ends of the holder similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, making any of six difierent color inks available by rotating and/ or turning the holder end-for-end.

When the holder has a square cross-section, such as the holder 11c shown in FIG. 6 in which the grooves 14 are equispaced around the perimeter, for instance at the intersections of the sides 120, four difierent color inks are available at one end of the holder, and eight different color inks are available when the holder is made double-ended similar to the holder shown in FIG. 5.

The edges of the holders 11, 11a, 11b and 11c may be tapered off as shown in FIG. 4 and the grooves 14 caused to follow the slope of the edges so as to bring the writing tips 18 at the end or ends closer together. In this case, it has been found, when an ink tube unit 15 is laid in a groove 14, slight finger pressure on the tube will cause the tube to bend and follow the contour of the groove.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of a ball-point pen in which, while the holder is held in the hand in a normal slanted position, the axis of the writing tip is substantially perpendicular to the paper or other writing surface. The result of this is to permit the ball to rotate more freely in its socket than it can when the writing pressure on the ball is at a substantial angle to the axis of the tip.

This is accomplished as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in which the grove 14a for receiving the ink tube 15 is sloped off at 20 at a substantial angle from one longitudinal edge 13a toward the other at one end of the holder so that when an ink tube unit is placed in the groove and bent to follow the groove, the axis of the ball-carrying tip will form a substantial angle with the axis of the holder and be approximately perpendicular to the paper as shown in FIG. 9. Of course the ink tube unit 15 may be bent in advance of being placed in the groove 14 but it has been found that the standard replacement unit as now available in the market can be bent to follow the curve of the groove by merely applying finger pressure as an incident to forcing the tube 17 into the groove.

Preferably the tube 17 is placed in the groove so that the ball of the tip 18 is in or close to the plane of the opposite edge of the holder.

When the pen just above described is to be doubleended so that two different color inks may be available, the arrangement shown in FIG. 8 is employed where each end of the holder has a sloping portion 20 and these may originate from opposite side edges of the holder as shown.

The holder may be elliptical in cross-section such as the holder 11d as shown in FIG. or it may be circular or have any other convenient or desired shape within the scope of this invention so long as the ink tube receiving groove extends to the exterior of the holder.

To keep the writing tips 18 from contacting the clothing and other things when the pen is not in use, the holder 11 may be provided with sheath means movable from operative to inoperative position. The sheath means may be in the form of an open-ended sleeve 21 closely fitting and slidably mounted on the holder and movable from an extended position shown in FIG. 1 to a retracted position shown at the lower portion of FIG. 5. An embossed or otherwise formed nib 22 engaging the end 16 (and end 19 when the holder is double-ended) of the holder keeps the end 23 of the sheath from unintentionally receding from its extended position where it projects beyond the balls of the writing tip 18. The sheath is proierably made of resilient material which permits the nib 22 to be sprung out and pass the end of the holder when the sheath is to be retracted, and also to apply resilient pressure to hold the sheath in any retracted position.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A holder for carrying ball-point pen ink tube and tip units for use comprising an elongate body having a cross-section which is substantially oblong, said body having along its opposite narrow edges external longitudinal grooves, the groove at one edge of the body opening at one end thereof and the groove at the other edge of the body opening at the other end thereof, each groove being laterally open to receive in writing position solely by lateral insertion and retain therein solely by frictional engagement with the walls of said groove an ink tube shaped to fit it with the ball-point tip extending beyond the adjacent end of the body in position for use, each longitudinal groove at the end of the body at which a tip projects inclining across said end and terminating adjacent the other longitudinal edge of the body.

2. A ball-point pen comprising an elongate body having a cross-section which is substantially oblong, said body having along its opposite narrow edges external longitudinal grooves; and a ball-point ink tube and tip unit frictionally retained in each groove so that the tip projects beyond the adjacent end of the body, said tip extending beyond opposite ends of the body in position for use, each longitudinal groove at each end of the body at which a tip extends inclining across said end and terminating adjacent the other longitudinal end of the body and each of said ink tube and tip units being shaped to fit the groove in which it is located.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,463,983 Visitacion Aug. 7, 1923 1,977,527 Pohle Oct. 16, 1934 2,228,493 Will Jan. 17, 1941 2,449,939 Heyberger Sept. 21, 1948 2,459,701 Harper Ian. 18, 1949 2,608,953 Kolls-man Sept. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,014,270 France May 28, 1952 744,133 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1956 

1. A HOLDER FOR CARRYING BALL-POINT PEN INK TUBE AND TIP UNITS FOR USE COMPRISING AN ELONGATE BODY HAVING A CROSS-SECTION WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY OBLONG, SAID BODY HAVING ALONG ITS OPPOSITE NARROW EDGES EXTERNAL LONGITUDINAL GROOVES, THE GROOVE AT ONE EDGE OF THE BODY OPENING AT ONE END THEREOF AND THE GROOVE AT THE OTHER EDGE OF THE BODY OPENING AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, EACH GROOVE BEING LATERALLY OPEN TO RECEIVE IN WRITING POSITION SOLELY BY LATERAL INSERTION AND RETAIN THEREIN SOLELY BY FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WALLS OF SAID GROOVE AN INK TUBE SHAPED TO FIT IT WITH THE BALL-POINT TIP EXTENDING BEYOND THE 